Mining machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. A. LEGG. MINING MACHINE.

Patented Ma @Jixg u. PETERS. Pmwulmn mr, Wnhingion, 0.1.

4 Shets-Sheet 2 (No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT ()FEicE.

BENJAD'IIN A. LEGG, OF COLUMBUS, oino, ASSIGNOR TO JosE H ANDREW JEFFREY, OF sAME PLACE.

MINING-MACHINE.

SPECIPICATION forming part of Letters lPatent No. 342,614, dated May 25, 1883.

Application filed August 27, 1885.

To aZZ whom it 71mg concern:

Be it k nown that I, BENJAMIN A. LEGG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbus, in the county of Franklin and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in llIining-llfachines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a top planofa machine embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section on the line a a, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is-a rear view, the frames being in section. Fig. 4 is a side view of the frame for the frictioir 1 drums detached. Fig. 5 is aseetion of the standards for the friction-bar, taken on line 2 a, Fig. 1. Fig. Gis asection on'line zz,

Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a section on line 00 m, Fig.

1. Fig. Sis asection on line y 3 Fig. 1. Fig.

2 9 is a erosssection of Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is aside view of the scrapers and the parts related thereto. Fig. 11 shows the scrapers on a larger scale. Fig. 12 is a plan view of the shipping devices for the clutch. Fig. 13 shows 2 detached the lever which drives the cutterbar. Fig. 14 is a section of the rear end of a drill. Figs. 15, 16, and 17 are details of the rotary drill. Figs. 18 and 19 show modifications of the devices which advance and witho draw the sliding frame.

This invention relates to improvements in mining-machines, it pertaining particularly to machines having a reciprocating bar by which the kerf is formed.

In the drawings I have shown a stationary frame composed of two side portions connected together by crossbars of any suitable number and shape. As shown, the side parts of the main frame are each formed of a Tbar, 0 a a, (see Fig. 3,) and a top plate or bar, a-,

bolted upon the top of the part a.. At a there is a depending flange, for a purpose to be described. This main frame can be made stationary in the mine or wherever the ma- 5 chine is to be used. The other parts of the apparatus, however, are not necessarily dependent upon all the details of this main frame. \Vith this is connected the sliding frame, which, as shown, is composed of two side parts connected by cross-bars at various Serial No. 175.490. (No model.)

points. The side parts are each represented as being constructed with two parallelbars, B B, ofsuch dimensions and at such distance apart as to be adapted to fit in the spaces between the parts (I, and a of the side portions of the stationary frame. (See Figs. 3 and 5.) These two bars, B B, may be made integral, or they may be made of separate pieces bolted together, if desired. They are so fitted to the side parts of the stationary frame that they 0 (the sliding bars) can move easily in and out while being held and guided by the stationary parts. The inner bars, 13' B, of the sliding frame are joined together by a cross-bar at B", comparatively well forward of the machine as 6 a whole, and by one or more cross bars or plates, B, at the rear end of the sliding frame. This sliding frame carries the cutting apparatus and also the power devices by which said apparatus is operated, by which they (together with the sliding frame) can be advanced and withdrawn.

The cutting apparatus in this particular machine eonsists of a series of, knives or cutters secured to a reciprocating bar, 0, use being mad e, also, for some purposes, of rotary drills, to be hereinafter fully referred to. The reciprocating bar 0 is connected with the side bars of the sliding frame by means of top plates, DD, and bottom plates, D D. These, at their rear ends or edges, are bolted to the sliding frame, as shown at d d, and at the front edges have grooves wherein fit ribs or guide pieces 11 on the cutter-bar. (See Figs. 2 and 7.) The cutter-bar O is then held firmly, so 8 far as displacement vertically is concerned, and displacement forward; but at the same time it is allowed to reciprocate to ailimited distance on lines transverse to the path of ad- Vance of the sliding frame. In order to avoid the friction which would be experienced by the bar in its hearing, I combine therewith anti-friction abutments inthe form of rollers D or their equivalents, so arranged as to have the rear edge of the bar 5 O bear against them. These have their bearings in the plates D D, and, as each of said plates is removable independently of the other parts, a roller can at any time be withdrawn for any purpose.

IOO

The cutters in this machine are provided in the following way: a 0 0 represent plates or sections, each section being provided with serrations or forward-projecting teeth at its front edge, and adapted to be placed in line with one or more similar sections, and then secured to the bar 0. The plates or cutter-sections c are fastened to the upper surface of the bar 0, the sections 0" are secured to the under surface of said bar, and the sections 0' are situated in a groove or recess extending from the front face of the bar 0 inward. Each of the cuttingteeth, 0, proper is V-shaped in face view, al though they are differently arranged alternatevthat is to say, those of one half of each series across the machine project upward somewhat, and those of the other half of the same series project downward, the deflection from the horizontal line being illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, where it will be seen that the cuttingedges are so related with respect to each other and with respect to the other parts that a clean wall is cut at the back, top, and bottom of the kerf, and that the latter is of sufficient width to permit the passage thereinto of all the parts necessary to properly carry the cutters. The operating edges of the cutter c are beveled, as shown, those of one half of each series being beveled upward and those of the other half downward, In many respects, however, this part of the apparatus can be modified. Thus, for instance, each one of the cutters a may be made separately and secured to the bar; or the bar may be madein sections, each section carrying cutters formed integral therewith; or the wholebar may be formed with the cutters.

I will now describe the devices by means of which the cutter-bar is reciprocated, and by which it and the frame supporting it are advanced into the material which is being operated upon, and again withdrawn.

At the hack of the cutter-bar there is a projectiou, 0, formed with a socket, C, (see Figs. 1 and 6;) and C is a plate adapted to be bolted in place above the socket.

F F represent a lever, the end F of which is connected loosely with the cutter-bar, preferably by means of a ball or cylinder, f, fitted into the aforesaid socket C, and as the lever is thrown one way or the other the cutter-bar is correspondingly moved. At 0 0 there are washers or wearing-plates, of steel or other suitable material, fastened in place so as to receive the wear from the lever, and,'when worn, they may be withdrawn and others substituted. Other means of connecting the levers with the cutters can be employed, if desired. The lever F F is mounted at f on the cross-bar B. The lever is moved to and fro by means of an engine, which is also attached to the sliding frame and moves therewith, it, as shown, having the following parts.

G G represent the cylinders, secured to upward-rising plates or standards G G, which are bolted to the sliding frame. These cylinders have chests g,valve mechanism g, pistons g", crank-rods g,and other attachments, which maybe of any of the forms now in use or any preferred.

H is the main engine-shaft, also mounted in the upward-rising standards G. It carries a toothed pinion,H,meshing with a spur-Wheel, I, on a second shaft, I, parallel to the engineshaft, and also mounted on the engine-frame.

l is a spur-pinion engaging with a spurwheel, J, on a third shaft, and I is a bevelpinion engaging with a bevelwheel, K, mounted on a shaft, K, (dotted lines, Fig. 1,) situated at right angles to the shaft I. This shaft K is mounted in a sleeve-bearing, K, carried by the engiue-frame, and at the lower end it has a crank, k, which is connected with the above-described lever F F by means of a link, L. (See Fig. 13.)

hen the engine is in motion, power is transmitted from shaft H, through wheels H, l, 1, and K, and shaft K and link L, to the lever in such way that the latter is reciprocatcd in the horizontal plane of the sliding frame, and therefore acts to throw the cutter bar in the way above described. Any of many ways can be employed for adjusting the throw of the lever F F and of the cutters.

Returning to the wheels 1 and J and the shaft J, it will be seen that the latter carries two worms, j and j.

M, Fig. 3, represents a worm-wheel below the worm j on a shaft mounted in the sleeve M, and carrying a bevel-pinion, m, at its forward end. This wheel engages with another bevel-wheel, N, upon shaft N, and from this shaft all the power is taken for advancing the sliding frame and for withdrawing it.

The devices by means of which the advancing and withdrawing are effected are con- .structed and arranged as follows: R represents a bar or board situated longitudinally relatively to the machine as a whole, and somewhat above the stationary and the sliding frames. It is rigidly fastened to the stationary frame, there being at the front end of the latter a support having the horizontal parts S, Figs. 1 and 5, bolted to the frame,the upward-rising parts S connected by the horizontal part S. Above this there is a clamp having the feet S, the vertical parts S, and the horizontal plate 8*, this clamp being adapted to be forced toward the part S S S by bolts S. The bar or board R is placed between the clamp and the horizontal part S, and by the bolts at S a firm grip can be obtained. At the rear end of the machine there is a similar standard, whereby the rear end of the bar or board can be gripped. Now, the abovementioned shaft N causes a frictional engagement with the said bar or board R by means of the following devices: T '1" represent drums mounted upon the main frame, one above and the other below-said board R. They engage with each other by means of gear-wheels t t, and at the ends opposite thereto they prefer ably have flanges t, which fit against the edge of the bar or board R. The lower drum, T,

is connected rigidly with the shaft N, and if it be pressed against the bar or board B it will tend to advance or withdraw the sliding frame, and if the upper drum, T, having an opposite rotation through thespur-wheels it, be pressed against the other side of the bar or board R, a powerful grip can be exerted thereon, and

as the drum is revolved the longitudinal mof tion of the sliding frame will be effected, as will be readily understood.

Vhen the lower drum alone is depended on for moving the frame, it and the bar R maybe pressed together in the way shown in Fig. 19, the drum or wheel T here being used merely as a presscr-wheel, and in this respect not requiring the application of power from the drum T.

The engagement of the wheel N with the drum T can be broken by means of any suitable shipping mechanism, so that said wheel shall no longer act to advance the sliding frame. \Vhen it is desired to withdraw said frame that is, move it in the direction opposite to that in which it is moved by the aforesaid devicesand pull it back from the coal or other material upon which it has been operating, the following devices are brought to bear: 0 is a worm-wheel driven by the worm j, it being on a shaft, O, Fig. 2, which at the front end carries a bevel-pinion, O". This pinion engages with a wheel, 0 which is also mounted upon the shaft N and adapt-ed, by means of suitable shipping devices, to be brought into engagement with the drum T. These parts last above described are so arranged as to turn the shaft N in the direction opposite to that in which it is turned by the wheel N, although the engine be not reversed. Therefore, when the wheel O is in operation, the drums T and T will be rotated in the directions of the arrows 2, and therefore a backward pull will be exerted upon the sliding frame.

The shifting devices which throw wheel N into or out of engagement with the drum T and the shifting devices which similarly throw the wheel O can be connected together so as to be simultaneously operated.

The drums T and. T are so supported and mounted that the pressure which they exert upon the bar or board R can be increased or diminished as occasion demands. I have shown one of the mechanisms adapted to permit this regulating of the pressure. It comprises stationary uprights U U, adapted to be bolted to the sliding frame, these being connected at the top by across-bar, U In this stationary frame there is mounted asliding frame having vertical arms a and a, (dotted lines, Fig. 3,) connected by a cross-bar, a. At thelowercnd of the vertical arms there are boxes or bearing-pieces a inwhich are journaled the ends of theshaft of the drum T. At a there is a socket in the crossbar a, and at if there is an aperture through the crossbar U of the stationary part of the drumframe. This aperture is threaded, and with the threads there engages a screw, a having a hand-wheel, a, secured thereto. By means of said screw and wheel the drum T can he forced down or drawn up as desired. Other equivalent ways of mounting the drums and 3 of having them adjustable (one or both) can E be substituted for that employed without-departing from the invention in this respect.

By referring to Fig. 19 it will be seen that 1 if power be applied to the vertical screw-shaft :u by means of the hand-wheel u" said screw- 1 shaft and the sliding frame air cause the part T to bear down on the top of bar R, and conf sequently the drum T will be pressed against 5 the under side of said bar and have a strong grip thereon. Of course,ifawooden or flexible bar, R, be used, there will be some tendency for it to be forced down; but there will none the less be a tendency to press the drum T against it, as aforesaid.

The standards U U have forward-project 1 ing arms U U, provided with boxes or hear- I ings at a", wherein the shaft J can have bearings at thecentral parts, soas to preventtwist- 5 ing or straining thereof.

The mechanism which I have herein shown and above described for advancing and with- :drawing the cutters is, under many circumstances, mueh superior to any of those which a have been heretofore in use. The cutters can be advanced with sufficient rigidity, and at the same time there will be a capabilityin the advancing mechanism of yielding,ifnecessary, the engagement between the drums and the bar or board R being frictional and not positive, as is the case with a rack and pinion, or when a rope is wound upon a drum, or when employment is made of a screw and nut. 'If a wooden beam or board be employed at B, it will be sufficiently flexible and elastic to conform to any deviations in the movementof the engaging parts; secondly, it will permit of a strong bite upon its surface, and, thirdly, it can be easily withdrawnwhen impaired or worn and anothersubstituted; but in place of thisa device to be gripped by the drums can be made of any suit-able material, either rigid or flexible.

The drg ms T T, while being preferably made of metal, can nevertheless be formed of any suitable material. They may be smooth upon their surfaces or corrugated, or they may be wrapped with wire or surrounded with any other material suitable for increasing their frictional capacity and their durability. I prefer to mount them on horizontal axes, as I I can thereby diminish the vertical space required for the machine as a whole; but, under favorable circumstances, they can be arranged on vertical or inclined axes and preserve many of the advantageous features of those shown.

Of course it will be seen that, if properly perform the work to greater or less advantage of moving the sliding frame, and also that the drum or drums can be mounted upon the stationary frame, and the opposing friction surface or surfaces with which they engage can becarried by the sliding frame. This, howarranged, one friction-drum, can be made to IIO ever, is not thebettcr construction when the engine and the power-transmittin g devices are carried by the sliding frame; but itcan be employed where a power-transmitter can be connected with the stationary frame. In respect to this part of the machine, and in view of what has been heretofore done, the invention consists in having the rotary friction device on one of the frames and a friction-surface carried by the other-as, for instance, the surface of such a bar as that shown, with which surface the rotary part can engage.

In Fig. 18 the lower drum is dispensed with,

duce apertures at the ends of the throw of the reciprocating cutter-bar. These rotary drills proper are represented at V V, there being one upon each side of the machine. Each is mounted upon an elongated shank or shaft, V", which is mounted in the horizontal planes of the sliding frame,bearings therefor being provided in a bracket, 22, at the front end of the machine and a bracket, 1), at the rear end of the drill-shaft, and, if necessary, others at intermediate points. The bracket 2: is secured to the side bar, B, of the sliding frame, it having at the outer end or edge a box or hearing, a", Fig. 8. A groove or way, 12, is formed in the bracket, for a purpose to be hereinafter described, this groove or way being covered by a plate, 1). The rear bracket, 11, is also secured to and projects laterally outward from the side bar of the sliding frame. It has a socket into which the rear end of the drillshaft is fitted, and is also provided with adjusting devices for regulating the position of the drill-points. These adjusting devices may be of any suitable form. As shown, they eonsist of a screw, 11, passing through the end wall, 1), of the bracket-bearing, and a j am-nut, '0", adapted to lock the screw in any position to which it is adjusted.

The operative parts of the drill consist of the auger-likeportion V, detachably secured to the stock or shaft V, the latter being provided with a central socket in its end, into which the shank of the auger part can be seated, and there being a set-screw or other fastening device at 12" for fastening the latter in place. The end of the stock or shaft V is squared or made polygonal in section, and upon this squared portion is fitted the chisel part V of the drill, it having widened cutters '0 and a squared aperture,which fits upon the aforesaid socket end of the stock V and there being a set'serew, key, or other fastening device at a for clamping it in place.

If either the auger part V or the chisel portion V becomes worn or broken, it can be readily replaced for sharpening or permitting the substitution of another. However, the drills may be madein any other suitable waythat is to say, asingle auger maybe employed, or one having a single rotary chisel-cutter, and in either case the cutting part may be integral with or detachable from the stock or shaft.

Preferably I employ rotary drills the diameter of whose cut is as great as the vertical diameter of the kerf of the reciprocating cutters, and itis better to arrange the latter cut ters so that they shall move into the aperture formed by the drill, as they are thereby relieved from shock or resistance at the end of their throw. When the stock or shaft V of the drill is at one or more points of considerably less diameter than that of the cut of said rotary drill, the reciprocating cutter can be carried well in toward the axis of the stock or shaft without striking any of the rotary parts.

I have shown an improved apparatus for revolving the drills. The shaft J carries at its ends sprocket -wheels 1' wherewith engage chains These chains engage with sprocketwheels W on a cross-shaft, W. At the outer ends of this shaft there are bevel-wheels Vi, which engage with bevel-wheels X. Each of the latter is secured to a shaft mounted in a bearing, Y, carried by a bracket, Y, secured to the side bar of the sliding frame. Y is a toothed wheel, also carried by the shaft, it engaging with the toothed wheel Y, secured to the stock or shaft V of the drill. It will now be seen that when the engine is in motion and power is transmitted to the shaft J it will be carried also through the devices last above described to the toothed wheels Y and the drill-stock.

In order to withdraw from the kerf the cuttings and the small particles produced by the cutters while in operation, I employ reciprocating cleanersthat is to say, which move toward and from the cutters they acting while moving away from the cutters to draw out the cuttings. There is a set of these on each side of the machine shown, each set being carried by a reciprocating bar, Z. This is mounted in bearings, so that it can slide to and fro, and, for convenience and simplicity, the bearings may be provided by means of the brackets which carry the rotating drills. As

above described, the front brackets, e, have grooves or apertures a, Fig. 8, and the rear brackets, 12, are similarly constructed, Fig. 3. The bar Z is mounted in these and carries downward-depending scrapers. As shown, these consist of plates or bars z, hinged to the bars Z. As the bars move forward, the scrapers yield, and therefore ride loosely over the surface on which the machine rests; but when the bar is moving in the opposite direction the serapers drop into the vertical position, and are held there by suitable lIS stops, and therefore engage with any material that may lie in their path and push it outward. These should be at such distances apart as that the material shall be carried from one to the other throughoutthe serips and ultimately delivered outside of the kerf.

The bars Z may be reciprocated by any suitable mechanism. I have shown one adapted for this purpose, there being a lever or rocking bar, Z, pivoted to the sliding frame or to a support secured thereto, pivoted at Z2. It is oscillated by a link, Z driven by a crank, Z. This crank can be secured to any rotating part of the machine which is suitably locatedas, for instance, to the shaft Jand when said shaft is revolving it will be seen that the cleaner-bar is reciprocated to and fro. By an examination of the drawings it will be found that these bars are at the ends of the throw of the reciprocating cutters, and therefore they can easily reach the material which is loosened by saidcutters and carried loosely. The r0- tary drills are so revolved as to deliver their cuttings on about the same line longitudinally of the machine, and this also makes it advantageous to have the cleaners arranged as they are-that is, on lines between the rotary drills and the cutters, which are placed intermediate] y between the drills.

lVhat I claim is- 1. In a mining-machine, the combination of a stationary frame, a sliding frame, a frictiondrum carried by one of said frames, a frictionsurface upon the other frame, adapted, substantially as set forth, to be pressed by the said drum, whereby the movement "of the sliding frame is advanced relatively to the stationary frame, and means, substantially as set forth, for advancing the sliding frame.

2. In a mining-machine, the combination of the stationary frame, the sliding frame, two oppositely-revolving friction -drums carried by one of said frames, a friction-bar, R, engaged with by both of the aforesaid drums, and means, substantially as set forth, for operating the said drums.

3. The combination of the stationary frame, the sliding frame, friction-drum carried by one of said frames, means, substantially as described, for operating the said drum, and a friction-bar carried by the other and removable from its supports, substantially as set forth.

4. In a mining-machine, the combination of the stationary frame, the sliding frame, the two revolving friction-drums carried by one of said frames, a friction-bar carried by the other, means independent of the drums for supporting said bar, and the wheels which transmit motion from one to the other of the drums, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the stationary frame, the sliding frame, africtiou-drum carried by one of said frames, and a friction-surface upon the other of said frames, adapted, substantially as set forth, to engage with the friction-drum,

I an adjustable bearing for the said drum, and

means, substantially as set forth, for operating said drum.

6. The combination of the sliding frame, the stationary frame, the power devices mounted upon the sliding frame, a rotating frictiondrum upon the sliding frame, means, substantially as described, for connecting said drum with the power devices, and a friction-surface upon the stationary frame adapted to be engaged with said friction-drum, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of the stationary frame, the sliding frame, a friction-drum mounted upon one of said frames, a friction-surface carried by the other frame and adapted to engage with said drum, means, substantially as set forth, for rotating said drum in one direction, and means independent of those aforesaid, substantially as described, for rotating the drum in the opposite direction, as set forth.

8. The combination of the stationary frame, the sliding frame, the rotary drills carried by the sliding frame, the engine or power devices carried by the sliding frame, the shafts Y, re spectively interposed between the engine and the drills and each lying substantially in the plane of its drill, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

9. The combination of the stationary frame, the sliding frame, the engine or power devices mounted upon the sliding frame, the rotary drills upon the sliding frame, the means for advancing the sliding frame, shaft J, which drives said means, shafts Y, interposed between the shaft W and thedrills, and means for imparting power from the shaft J to shaft- WV, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination of the cutters, the sliding frame, the bracket-bearings c and a, one at or near the rear end of the sliding frame and the other at or near the front end, the reciprocating cleaner-bar mounted in said rear and front bearings, and the cleaners secured thereto, substantially as set forth.

11. The combination of the cutters, the sliding frame, the rotary drills, the brackets which support the drills upon the sliding frame, and the reciprocating cleaner bars mounted in said brackets, substantially as set forth.

12. The combination of the rotary drills, the intermediate cutters between the rotary drills, and the cleaner-bars mounted between the drills and the intermediate cutters, substantially as set forth.

13. The combination of the reciprocating cutters, the frame which carries said cutters, and the cleanerbar mounted transversely to the path ofthe cutters at the end oftheir throw, substantially as set forth.

14. In a mining-machine, the combination, with the stationary frame carrying guide-bars, of the sliding frame having at each side two bars, B B, one inside and the other outside of one of the aforesaid bars carried by the stafoo tionary frame, the cutters carried by the sliding frame, and the power devices on said frame, substantially as described.

15. The combination, with the stationary frame, of the sliding frame having the bars B lying outside of the stationary frame, and adapted, substantially asset forth, to move on the outside of said frame, the cutters carried by the sliding frame,and the power devices on said frame, as described.

16. The combination of the sliding frame having outside bars, B B, means for connecting said bars together, and the stationary frame having a way for the said bars on the outer sides of said stationary frame, the cutters carried by the sliding f rame,and the power devices on said frame, as described.

17. The combination of the sliding frame having the outside bars, B B, and the station ary frame inside of the saidbars,and provided with the detachable parts a", the cutters carried by the sliding frame, and the power devices on said frame, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination, with the stationaryframe having the vertical guide-piece a, and the bottom a, of the sliding frame, having the side bars, B B',the cutters carried by the slidingframe,and the powerdevices on said frame, substantially as set forth.

19. In amining-machine,the combination of the stationary frame,the sliding frame, the rotating drill carried by the sliding frame, the bearings for said drill, and means, substantially as set forth,for adjusting the end of the drill relatively to the sliding frame, substantially as set forth.

20. The combination of the stationary frame,

the sliding frame mounted thereon, the rotating drill carried by the sliding frame, the power-wheel surrounding the axis of the drill, and the adjusting devices engaging with the drill, substantially as set forth.

21. The combination of the main frame,the standards or upright frames secured thereto, the bar 'R,securcd to said standards, the sliding frame, the engine upon and moving with said sliding frame, and the friction-drums on the sliding frame, one above and the other below said bag, substantially as set forth.

22. The combination of the sliding frame, the friction drums thereon, the stationary frame, the bar R thereon, and uprights or standards for said bar, formed separately from the frame and detachably secured thereto, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination of the stationary frame, the friction-bar R,carried thereby, the sliding frame, the friction-drums thereon, and the frame or standards for said drums,formed separatel y from and detachably secured to said sliding frame, substantially as set forth.

' 24. The combination of thestationary frame, the sliding frame, the friction-drums carried by one, the friction-bar carried by the other,

of said frames, movable bearings for one of 65 BENJAMIN A. LEGG.

\Vitnesses':

MATT ORIsPIN, T. M. LIVESAY. 

